53.8 F
Laguna Hills
Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024
-Advertisement-

OC 50 – APPAREL

OC 50 – APPAREL

BRUCE A. FETTER

Co-CEO, COO,

St. John Knits International Inc.

Born in Arcadia, Nov. 13, 1954

Lives in Newport Coast

KELLY ANN GRAY

Co-CEO, Creative Director,

St. John Knits International Inc.

Born in Los Angeles, Sept. 27, 1966

Lives in Newport Coast

Pair took reins last year after Robert Gray (Kelly’s dad) retired, became consultant to upscale women’s clothier.

Split duties: Kelly, company’s signature model, handles advertising, merchandising, product development, sales, retail. Started in family business at age 12 answering phones, wrapping boxes during summer break. Started modeling at 15, worked way up. Learned business along the way.

Fetter, only second CEO from outside family in St. John’s 40 years, oversees manufacturing, finance, real estate, administration. Says working with tight-knit family can be tough. Joined in 1997 as distribution VP. Served as co-president with Kelly before current post. Honed skills at Mervyn’s, where he spent 17 years in logistics, distribution.

Two report to board, including directors from Vestar Capital Partners, 78% owner.

Pursuing a number of initiatives. A big one: global expansion. Planning flagship Tokyo, South Korea stores this year as part of Asian push.

“Our major competitors do a lot more of their business there percentagewise than we do,” Fetter says. Asia’s about 8% of St. John’s sales.

Last year opened boutiques in Beijing, Shanghai. Company has 29 stores in U.S, one in Canada. Also runs 13 outlets. Closed home stores.

Duo seeking to grow sales of handbags, shoes, accessories. Adding semi-precious jewelry pieces. May relaunch eyeglasses.

Continues to make bulk of clothes,85%,in Irvine. Counts several lines: knitwear, sport, couture, shoes, accessories, handbags. Handful of contractors in Asia, Baja California factory.

Recently upgraded production gear, cutting work done by hand. Orange County employment down 11% from last year to 2,745 people. Most reduction came through attrition. Companywide employment: 4,950 people.

Looking to up marketing, broaden customers. In past, Robert Gray credited Kelly with attracting younger buyers. This spring, miniskirt added to lines. Sells to women ages 30 to 60, 45 the average.

For year through Nov. 3, revenue down 1% to $362 million. Net income off 1% to $21 million, reflecting retail push.

Fashion model and “Queen for a Day” TV show hostess Marie Gray used St. John as stage name, founded company in 1962 in San Fernando Valley. Then-fianc & #233; Bob (a USC grad and son of a Hollywood stuntman) provided marketing help. Marie hoped to sell enough dresses for a wedding, honeymoon in Hawaii.

Grays moved business to OC in 1973. In 1989, sold 84% stake to Escada, which cashed out in 1993 public offering.

Kelly Gray: face of a thousand-plus fashion layouts in exotic locales surrounded by sexy men, cheetahs. Described as a little shy, businesslike, addresses questions pointedly and only those she’s comfortable with. Well-coifed, dressed to kill in St. John collections. Works crowd of diehard St. John women fans nibbling strawberries and sipping wine at Nordstrom trunk shows. Works out with three trainers. Big dog fan: pet Maltese has hung out in office. Mother Marie has own collection: Chihuahua, Yorkies.

Husband Kurt Conrad. Likes traveling, entertaining, skiing. On board for Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

Fetter’s wife is Lynn, two kids. Enjoys surfing, beach volleyball. On boards of youth agencies, including Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

,Jennifer Bellantonio

JAMES HENRY JANNARD

Founder, Chairman, CEO,

Oakley Inc.

Born in Los Angeles, June 8, 1949

Lives on Spieden Island, Wash.

COLIN BADIN

President, Oakley Inc.

Born in Concord, Mass., March 27, 1962

Lives in Irvine

Cigar-puffing visionary and tell-it-like-it-is design guy behind apparel maker’s mystique.

Both urge workers to push design envelope at “mad scientist” product lab, led by Baden.

Sunglasses maker continues to push newer products (shoes, clothes, prescription glasses, watches), which represent more than quarter of sales. Had share of ups and down in tough retail market. Currently up after beating first-quarter expectations, though profits were down and sales just barely up.

Duo continues to build retail empire, including Iacon Inc., sunglass seller acquired two years ago. Also plans about 20 new stores in this year under four names: Occhiali da Sole, Sporting Eyes, Sunglass Designs, Oakley Icon. Also on tap for this year: about 10 more O-stores, which will bring total to 25, including Vaults (outlets). Last year, opened nine O-stores and Vaults.

Big push: women’s clothing, which was about 12% of apparel sales in 2002. Seen as key area for future growth. Just hired new domestic sales manager to oversee division’s sales.

Shoes also a focus. New basketball sneakers debuted last year, upping stakes in battle with Nike. Defense conversion: consumer version of boot made for military and used in Iraq set to debut. Company got big exposure from soldiers wearing Oakley goggles, boots.

2002 sales up 14% to $489.6 million. Net income of $41 million, down 19%. Outlook for 2003 so far is shaded. Sunglass market remains soft due to tight economy, tepid consumer spending.

Sales this year predicted to rise about 15% to $560 million. Sees new products, retail driving growth.

Restructured European operations, including cutting outside sales agents. Intends to keep watching expenses.

Jannard, reclusive to the extreme, rarely grants interviews. Camera phobic, though a photography buff himself. Raises “Oakley English Setter” show dogs. Company name taken from favorite dog breed. Splits time between OC, Spieden Island, Wash., a getaway he bought in 1997 for around $20 million.

Wife Bobbie, seven children. Loves drag racing, company backs Mohawk-wearing Scotty Cannon, other drivers.

Charismatic, no-nonsense Baden oversees design, graphics team, controls company branding. Partner at Lewis Architects of Seattle for six years prior, began advising Oakley on image in 1993. Says he’s “a 41-year-old bald kid in need of therapy.”

In October, made part of new office of chairman, along with Jannard, operations chief Link Newcomb, Tommy Rios, executive VP. In free time, likes to race Olympic class yachts, work with dad Mowry on public art projects here and in Canada.

Drives “completely-worked Hummer on the weekdays and a bad ass black Harley on Sundays.” Says he’s “addicted to rush of chasing a great design,” “always disappointed when it’s over.”

Wife Laura, two sons, 6, 15.

,Jennifer Bellantonio

ROBERT BUCHNER

MCKNIGHT JR.

Chairman, CEO, Quiksilver Inc.

Born in Pasadena, Aug. 17, 1953

Lives in Emerald Bay

Surfwear’s billion-dollar man.

Company on track to hit $1 billion in yearly sales mark this year, “a distinction we’ll have with only a handful of brands here and abroad,” McKnight says.

Charismatic, easy-going surfer has rode ultimate wave,growing big, staying cool. Company has kept cachet as it has taken surfwear to masses. Observers say McKnight is key.

Not always a day at the beach. Battened down hatches at start of 2002. “We took products back. We canceled goods on order. We just tried to help (retailers) through a rugged time,” he said.

Nice recovery: for fiscal year ended in October, sales up 14% to $701 million, net income up 34% to $37.6 million. Sales for the three months ended Jan. 31 jumped 31% to $192 million.

Designs, makes surfwear, extreme sportswear, casual, golf wear, snow apparel. Wares sold in surf shops, specialty, department stores, company stores including Quiksilver Boardriders Clubs. Has 1,938 workers, 1,300 in OC.

Momentum fueled by growing retail arm, brands such as Hawk Clothing, Roxy, Fidra golf clothes. Planning European push this year.

Spent much personal time last year on delicate deal. Company bought out Japanese, Australian licensees, owned largely by company’s Aussie surf-legend founders Alan Green, John Law. Value: $93 million. Said move consolidates global control over wholesale business, unifies brand.

Also teamed with Glorious Sun Enterprises to open stores, boost distribution in China. Initial plans call for up to 10 Shanghai stores this year, next.

Also launched entertainment arm, continues to strike TV shows, book, movie deals.

Keeps growing “Surf City” headquarters. Signed two leases last year valued at $6 million to take on added 200,000 square feet to house screen-printing operations, store blank T-shirts, production, purchasing departments. Brings total square footage to 700,000.

HQ features big-wave videos, stadium meeting seating, surfboards, custom rattan furniture. McKnight’s office sits on second floor above lobby, like a lifeguard tower.

Sticks by friends. Asked high school buddy, owner of Laguna smoothie and sandwich joint Orange Inn to open stand inside headquarters. Wanted to give workers,mostly surfers and skaters,healthy food. Eatery now a place to brainstorm, he says. His favorite: albacore, avocado sandwich, fresh-squeezed orange juice, smoothies.

Founded Quiksilver USA as boardshorts company in 1976 with Jeff Hakman. Now spans juniors, middle-aged surfers, boys, girls, toddlers. Along with media ventures, marketing geared toward surfing events, magazines, apparel publications, Spin, Rolling Stone.

Still finds time to hit waves on custom surfboards, or greens with buddies surfer Kelly Slater, Fidra line designer John Ashworth.

Bachelor’s in business from USC. Director of Southern California Entrepreneurship Academy, Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (also its first president), Orange County Marine Institute.

Wife Annette (met, along with Hakman, on 1973 trip to Bali), three children. Enjoys surfing, snowboarding, tennis, golf, softball, volleyball, diving.

,Jennifer Bellantonio

GREG H. WEAVER

Chairman, CEO,

Pacific Sunwear of California Inc.

Born in Paterson, N.J., Jan., 17, 1954

Lives in Cowan Heights

Defying retail’s slowdown with monthly sales gains, strong profits.

Saw 2002 sales surge 24% to $846 million, profits nearly doubled to $50 million. Still going strong, despite slowdown that’s befallen other retailers. March same-store sales up 10%

PacSun stores sell surf, other West Coast fashions in malls nationwide. Playing both coasts: growing d.e.m.o. line of stores sells urban hip-hop styles. Last year opened 85 stores, expanded 30 others.

Still growing. Plans to spend $40 million opening 75 stores this year, mostly PacSuns, but also outlets and d.e.m.o. shops. Some 30 smaller PacSun stores are set to expand or move to bigger space.

Girls, girls, girls. Retooled marketing to girls, company’s “No.1 growth initiative.” Expects even split this year between girls and men’s.

Looking to grow d.e.m.o., which offers Russell and Kimora Simmons’ Phat Farm, Baby Phat, P. Diddy’s Sean John line, Jay-Z’s Rocawear. Hedging bets: urban wear only real challenger to surfwear’s hold on teens.

Expects to add 10 new d.e.m.o. stores in 2003, goal of 200. Division driving same-store sales growth, up 35% in March, outpacing PacSun at 7%

Casual but polished, straight-talking. Regularly visits stores, talks to teens. Holds open house for vendors every Wednesday at Anaheim HQ. Conducts focus groups, teen panels, survey stores for feedback.

Always testing new looks from OC’s surf brands, such as Rusty Apparel, Volcom, Quiksilver.

Has 800 stores in 48 states and Puerto Rico, 10,000 U.S. workers, 500 in OC.

Grew up in Connecticut, joined company in 1987 as operations VP. Held positions of senior VP, executive VP, COO, president. Succeeded Michael Rayden as CEO in 1996, became chairman in 1997.

Earlier, was employed for 13 years by Jaeger Sportswear Ltd. in operations, merchandising for U.S., Canadian stores. Single. Likes to exercise. Enjoys traveling, including to Africa and Australia.

,Jennifer Bellantonio

HONORABLE MENTION

RAJ BHATHAL

Chairman,

CEO, Raj Manufacturing Inc.

RAUF GAJIANI

CEO, Alstyle Apparel & Activewear/A & G; Inc.

Bob Hurley,

President, Hurley International

Paul Naude

President, Billabong USA

Ivan Spiers

Apparel investor, entrepreneur

Want more from the best local business newspaper in the country?

Sign-up for our FREE Daily eNews update to get the latest Orange County news delivered right to your inbox!

-Advertisement-

Featured Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Related Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-